A NEWPORT couple who have hardly spent a day apart since the start of the Second World War are celebrating 70 years of marriage.

Dot and Ray Wall marked their platinum wedding anniversary on April 6 by proudly looking at a card from the Queen at their home in Lliswerry.

They’re now in their nineties, and the couple’s love for each other is just as strong as when they met while bottling beer at the former city brewery, Lloyds and Yorath, in 1938.

Mr Wall, 91, volunteered for RAF service at the start of the Second World War and was meant to go to the Far East until his commanding officer needed people to come to Newport Docks to work in logistics.

They married in 1942 at St John’s Church, in Maindee.

“He jumped at the Newport job as that was his home and where his new wife was,”

said son Raymond, 66.

Mrs Wall, 90, worked as a bus conductress with Newport Transport before and after the war.

Later the couple, seldom apart from each other, moved jobs and worked at Standard Telephone and Cables in Newport.

Mr Wall was an electrical engineer, while his wife worked in stock control and then became a wages clerk.

Their wedding photograph takes pride of place in the couple’s living-room.

“We are very close,” said Mr Wall.

Since retiring around 30 years ago the pensioners have enjoyed going on coach trips to Ireland, Scotland and the Lake District, and holidays in their caravan.

But in the last few years, due to ill-health, the couple have been forced to spend more time at home, but still enjoy regular visits from their children, Raymond and Elaine, 62, together with their three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

“They have always done everything together and are rarely apart,” said Raymond.

His father remembers one of many occasions where their love for each other was smiled upon, and said: “We were in the Royal Gwent and a lady said how nice it was to see a couple walking arm in arm. I have been very lucky to have found the love of my life.